The swim

I cut my hand deeply on tues before the race so had to keep it dry until race day. I devised a bandage for the race but it mostly fell apart by the halfway point. My biggest fear was striking another swimmer on the palm and opening it up again.

The choice I made was to lay back on the scrum that is the Ironman mass start and try to swim away from the dense inside lane. This would mean a slower split but loosing more blood into the Pacific was not going to help my bike or run.

I did find a true straight swimmer to draft behind over the return length and this got us past several swim groups and out of the water ~1:22. 14 min. slower thand Ironman Lake Placid but no further hand damage and quite fresh.

The Bike

The Kona bike course stands as an Icon in endurance sport, by itself! I had ridden parts of it in my taper week here but not those first miles in town. Placed early are some short steep hill sections with lots of spectators. Very energizing but too fast/crowded to spot any of my family there.

My race plan was to go by Heart rate (monitor) and perceived exertion as my bike computer crapped out and I wanted to enjoy the ride here. I knew from training what HR I could hold for over 7 hours if need be. This plan was quite different from Lake Placid where I kept to a certain (20mph) ave. speed overall and relied on the HR monitor only to avoid redlining/blowing up on the mountain there. One approach for completion the other for all out efforts.

The winds were the toughest part I thought; you really do go into headwinds both directions on the course. The exception is the climb to HaWi where the winds can from the side blow you half way across the road.

As my focus was on enjoying this special race I chose a stable but less aerodynamic front wheel and my reg. vented helmet over the hot aero race helmet. Also I felt I had to wear bike gloves to protect the hand in braking and on fluid hand-offs. These equipment changes probably added 15-20 min. to my time but I don't regret the choices.

The run

Basically a south and north leg turnaround course. The first is ~10 MILES AND FOLLOWS Alii dr. the shore road. Many more spectators and as partially shady, cooler with the ocean breeze. Saw the entire family twice here in both directions, yea!.

My marathon plan was to walk through the every mile aid station. This allows time to drink, cool off, take ice, whatever, in 30 sec. then restart running. In conditions this hot and humid you can't miss even one chance for cooling or fluids. My run pace was actually ~8 min/mi - the aid stations adding some time to the clock pace ~8:30s.

At ten miles you climb steeply up to Queen K highway and the hottest section of the day, 3-6 pm. Very hot, no shade, lavafields, no breeze, long steady grades up and down. BRUTAL!!! One thermometer here read 112 on the road. At mile 19 there is a steeper climb but it's not the hills at Kona it's the heat and humidity.

Finally the sun set into a distant cloud bank ~6pm so the last few miles were a little cooler, dusk not dark as I came back towards town. My HR effort and splits had been very even all afternoon and I figured with two miles left I could let it go a little and maybe get to even splits. 1:52:30 at mi.13.

I must have passed 30 or more shuffling and walking in over the last two miles into the finish above the swim start area. I spotted the Fam. on the finish chute about 25 yards from the line. The voice of Ironman Mike Reilly calls out every finisher here announcing "David Painter, you are an Ironman." 11:39:30 TOTAL THRILL.

My goals coming here were to finish and to enjoy the experience. Both worked out extremely well. To have enough left for a strong Marathon finish at Hawaii.

Some day maybe I'll be blessed again to return to this awesome place and "race" Ironman Kona. Who knows. This one though was to savor and enjoy. I tell you all, I/we did!!!

dr dave